A firefighter on the scene said windows had been broken and tiles from the ceiling were piled on the stove. He speculated that a person or persons may have been attempting to start a fire, but did not succeed. A policeman on the scene commented it looked like criminal mischief.

Reached on Wednesday afternoon, Fire Chief Keith Ahlstrom said,"We're still doing an investigation on it but that is what it appears. I don't believe there was anyone living in the house but I'm not 100 percent sure of that."